brake fluid Hyundai Sonata

YOUR VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
F12
B255A02NF-AATINDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
High Beam Indicator Light
Door Ajar Warning LightSeat Belt Reminder Light and ChimeTurn Signal Indicator Lights
ABS Service Reminder Indicator (If Installed)
Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level
Warning Light
Charging System Warning Light
SRS (Airbag) Warning Light
Cruise Indicator Light Check Engine - Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Indicator
Lights
Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning LightFront Fog Light Indicator Light (If Installed)
Cruise SET Indicator LightLow Fuel Level Warning Light
Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
* More detailed explanations of these items will be found beginning on page 1-52.
Low Tire Pressure Telltale (If Installed)TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Malfunction
Telltale (If Installed)

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
51
1. Tachometer
2. Low Tire Pressure Telltale
3. TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Malfunction Telltale
4. Door Ajar Warning Light
5. Seat Belt Warning Light (Driver's side)
6. High Beam Indicator Light
7. Turn Signal Indicator Lights
8. Speedometer
9. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Indicator Lights
(If Installed)
10. Front Fog Light Indicator Light (If Installed)
11. ABS Service Reminder Indicator (SRI) (If Installed)
12. Coolant Temperature Gauge13. Fuel Gauge
14. Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level Warning Light
15. Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
16. Charging System Warning Light
17. Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning Light
18. Check Engine - Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
19. SRS (Airbag) Warning Light
20. Automatic Transaxle Position Indicator Light (If Installed)
21. Odometer/ Trip Odometer/ Trip Computer (If Installed)
22. CRUISE Indicator Light
23. Cruise SET Indicator Light
24. Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
25. Low Fuel Warning Light

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI54
The brake fluid level warning light indi-
cates that the brake fluid level in the brake
master cylinder is low and hydraulic brake
fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 speci-
fications should be added. After adding
fluid, if no other trouble is found, the car
should be immediately and carefully driven
to a Hyundai dealer for inspection. If further
trouble is experienced, the vehicle should
not be driven at all but taken to a dealer by
a professional towing service.
Your Hyundai is equipped with dual-
diagonal braking systems. This means
you still have braking on two wheels even
if one of the dual systems should fail. With
only one of the dual systems working,
more than normal pedal travel and greater
pedal pressure are required to stop the
car. Also, the car will not stop in as short a
distance with only half of the brake system
working. If the brakes fail while you are
driving, shift to a lower gear for additional
engine braking and stop the car as soon as
it is safe to do so.
B260J01NF-AAT
Charging System Warning
Light
The charging system warning light should
come on when the ignition is turned on,
then go out when the engine is running. If
the light stays on while the engine is
running, there is a malfunction in the
electrical charging system. If the light comes
on while you are driving, have the system
checked by your Hyundai dealer as soon
as possible.B260K01S-AAT
Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
This light remains on unless the trunk lid is
completely closed and latched.
!
B260H02A-AAT
Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid
Level Warning Light
WARNING:
If you suspect brake trouble, have your
brakes checked by a Hyundai dealer as
soon as possible. Driving your car with
a problem in either the brake electrical
system or brake hydraulic system is
dangerous, and could result in a serious
injury or death.Warning Light OperationThe parking brake/brake fluid level
warning light should come on when the
parking brake is applied and the ignition
switch is turned to "ON" or "START". After
the engine is started, the light should go
out when the parking brake is released.
If the parking brake is not applied, the
warning light should come on when the
ignition switch is turned to "ON" or "START",
then go out when the engine starts. If the
light comes on at any other time, you should
slow the vehicle and bring it to a complete
stop in a safe location off the roadway.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
55
B260L02HP-GAT
Door Ajar Warning Light and
Chime
The door ajar warning light warns you that
a door is not completely closed and the
chime warns you that the key is in the
ignition switch.NOTE :The warning chime only sounds
whenever the key is in the ignition switch
and the driver's side front door is open
simultaneously. The chime sounds until
the key is removed from the ignition
switch or the driver's side front door is
closed.
B260M01A-AAT
Low Fuel Level Warning Light
The low fuel level warning light comes on
when the fuel tank is approaching empty.
When it comes on, you should add fuel as
soon as possible. Driving with the fuel
level warning light on or with the fuel level
below "E" can cause the engine to misfire
and damage the catalytic converter.B260N02A-AAT
Check Engine - Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL)
This light illuminates when there is a
malfunction of an exhaust gas related
component, and the system is not
functioning properly so that the exhaust
gas regulation values are not satisfied. This
light will also illuminate when the ignition key
is turned to the "ON" position, and will go out
in a few seconds after the engine is started.
If it illuminates while driving, or does not
illuminate when the ignition key is turned to
the "ON" position, take your car to your
nearest authorized Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked.
!
B260P02Y-GAT
ABS Service Reminder
Indicator (SRI) (If Installed)
When the key is turned to the "ON" position,
the Anti-Lock Brake System indicator will
come on and then go off in a few seconds.
If the ABS SRI remains on, comes on while
driving, or does not come on when the key
is turned to the "ON" position, this indicates
that there may be a problem with the ABS.
If this occurs, have your vehicle checked
by your Hyundai dealer as soon as
possible. The normal braking system will
still be operational, but without the
assistance of the anti-lock brake system.
WARNING:
If both the ABS SRI and Parking Brake/
Brake fluid level warning lights remain
"ON" or come on while driving, there
may be a problem with E.B.D. (Electronic
Brake Force Distribution).
If this occurs, avoid sudden stops and
have your vehicle checked by your
Hyundai dealer as soon as possible.

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI56
B265C01NF-AAT
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) Indicator Lights
(If Installed)
The electronic stability control indicators
change operation according to the ignition
switch position and whether the system is
in operation or not.
They will illuminate when the ignition key
is turned to the "ON" position, but should go
out after three seconds. If the ESC or ESC-
OFF indicator stays on, take your car to
your authorized Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked. See section 2 for
more information about the ESC.B260Q02NF-GAT
CRUISE Indicator Light
The cruise indicator light in the instrument
cluster is illuminated when the cruise
control ON/OFF button on the steering
wheel is pulled.
The indicator light turns off when the cruise
control ON/OFF button is pushed again.
Information about the use of cruise control
begins on page 1-92.
B260R01NF-GAT
Cruise SET Indicator Light
The Cruise SET indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster is illuminated when the cruise
control "COAST/SET" or "RES/ACCEL" switch
is pushed. The Cruise SET indicator light
does not illuminate when the cruise control
"CANCEL" switch is pushed or the system is
disengaged. To disengage the cruise control
system, refer to "To cancel the cruise speed"
on page 1-93.B260S01NF-GAT
Low Windshield Washer Fluid
Level Warning Light
The low windshield washer fluid warning light
comes on when the washer fluid reservoir is
approaching empty. When it comes on, add
washer fluid at your earliest opportunity.
B270A01O-AATBRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
SOUNDThe front and rear disc brake pads have wear
indicators that should make a high-pitched
squealing or scraping noise when new pads
are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard all the time when the vehicle is
moving. It may also be heard when the brake
pedal is pushed down firmly. Excessive rotor
damage will result if the worn pads are not
replaced. See your Hyundai dealer immedi-
ately.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
87
HIGH-MOUNTED REAR STOP
LIGHTB550A02Y-AATIn addition to the lower-mounted rear stop
lights on either side of the car, the high
mounted rear stop light in the center of the
rear window also lights when the brakes
are applied.
B550A01NF-A
REMOTE FUEL-FILLER LID RE-
LEASEB560A04Y-AATThe fuel-filler lid may be opened from
inside the vehicle by pushing the fuel-filler
lid opener switch located on the driver's
door.NOTE:If the fuel-filler lid will not open because
ice has formed around it, tap lightly or
push on the lid to break the ice and
release the lid. Do not pry on the lid. If
necessary, spray around the lid with an
approved de-icer fluid (do not use
radiator anti-freeze) or move the vehicle
to a warm place and allow the ice to melt.
ONF048018L
!
WARNING:
o Gasoline vapors are dangerous. Be-
fore refueling, always stop the engine
and never smoke or allow sparks and
open flames near the filler area.
o Never operate your vehicle without a
filler cap properly installed, flammable
vapors and gasoline could leak out in
dangerous situations such as a
collision or rollover. If the filler cap
must be replaced, only use genuine
Hyundai replacement parts.
HNF2021

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
10
!
C090I03L-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R", "D" and "P" position
only when the vehicle has completely
stopped.
o Do not accelerate the engine in
reverse or any of the forward positions
with the brakes applied.
o Always apply the footbrake when shift-
ing from "P" or "N", to "R" or
"D"position.
o Do not use the "P" (Park) position in
place of the parking brake. Always
set the parking brake, shift the
transaxle into "P" (Park) position and
turn off the ignition when you leave the
vehicle, even momentarily. Never
leave the vehicle unattended while
the engine is running.
o When accelerating from a stop on a
steep hill, the vehicle may have a
tendency to roll backwards. Shifting
the shift lever into 2nd gear while in
Sport mode will help prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid
level regularly, and add fluid as
necessary.
o See the maintenance schedule for
the proper fluid recommendation.
C090H01L-GATNOTE:o For smooth and safe operation,
depress the brake pedal when shifting
from "Neutral" position or "Park"
position to a forward or reverse gear.
o The ignition key must be in the "ON"
position and the brake pedal fully de-
pressed in order to move the shift
lever from the "P" (Park) position to
any of the other positions.
o It is always possible to shift from "R",
"N", or "D" position to "P" position.
The vehicle must be fully stopped to
avoid transaxle damage. o To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain
gearshifts when the selector lever is
operated.
o Before driving away from a stop on a
slippery road, push the selector lever
forward into the +(UP) position. This
causes the transaxle to shift into 2nd
gear which is better for smooth driv-
ing away on a slippery road. Push the
selector lever to the -(DOWN) side to
shift back to 1st gear.
C090J02NF-GATSHIFT LOCK RELEASEIf the shift lever cannot be moved from the
P (Park) position with the brake pedal
depressed, continue depressing the brake,
then do the following:
1. Carefully remove the cap covering the
shift-lock override access hole.
2. Insert a screwdriver (or key) into the
access hole and press down on the
screwdriver (or key).
3. Move the shift lever.
4. Have your vehicle inspected by an au-
thorized Hyundai dealer immediately.
ONF059008L

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
18
C160J01A-AATDon't Let Ice and Snow Accumulate
UnderneathUnder some conditions, snow and ice can
build up under the fenders and interfere
with the steering. When driving in severe
winter conditions where this may happen,
you should periodically check underneath
the car to be sure the movement of the front
wheels and the steering components is
not obstructed.C160I01A-AATDon't Let Your Parking Brake FreezeUnder some conditions your parking brake
can freeze in the engaged position. This
is most likely to happen when there is an
accumulation of snow or ice around or
near the rear brakes or if the brakes are
wet. If there is a risk the parking brake may
freeze, apply it only temporarily while you
put the gear selector lever in "P" (automatic)
or in first or reverse gear (manual transaxle)
and block the rear wheels so the car cannot
roll. Then release the parking brake.
C160H02A-AATUse Approved Window Washer Anti-
Freeze in SystemTo keep the water in the window washer
system from freezing, add an approved
window washer anti-freeze solution in
accordance with instructions on the
container. Window washer anti-freeze is
available from Hyundai dealers and most
auto parts outlets. Do not use engine coolant
or other types of anti-freeze as these may
damage the paint finish.C160G01A-AATTo Keep Locks from FreezingTo keep the locks from freezing, squirt an
approved de-icer fluid or glycerine into the
key opening. If a lock is covered with ice,
squirt it with an approved de-icing fluid to
remove the ice. If the lock is frozen internally,
you may be able to thaw it out by using a
heated key. Handle the heated key with
care to avoid injury.
C160F01A-AATCheck Spark Plugs and Ignition
SystemInspect your spark plugs as described in
Section 6 and replace them if necessary.
Also check all ignition wiring and
components to be sure they are not cracked,
worn or damaged in any way.C160E01A-AATChange to "Winter Weight" Oil if
NecessaryIn some climates it is recommended that a
lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be used
during cold weather. See Section 9 for
recommendations. If you aren't sure what
weight oil you should use, consult your
Hyundai dealer.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
23
8. When parking your car and trailer, es-
pecially on a hill, be sure to follow all
the normal precautions. Turn your front
wheel into the curb, set the parking
brake firmly, and put the transaxle in 1st
or Reverse (manual) or Park (automatic).
In addition, place wheel chocks at each
of the trailer's tires.
9. If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving, and
then apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are working.
This lets you check your electrical
connection at the same time.
10. During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
11. Avoid jerky starts, sudden acceleration
or sudden stops.
12. Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane
changes.
13. Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat, resulting
in reduced braking efficiency.
14. When going down a hill, shift into a
lower gear and use the engine braking
effect.
When ascending a long grade, down-
shift the transaxle to a lower gear and
reduce speed to reduce chances of
engine overloading and/or overheat-
ing.
CAUTION:
If overheating should occur when tow-
ing, (the temperature gauge reads near
red zone), taking the following action
may reduce or eliminate the problem.
1. Turn off the air conditioner.
2. Reduce highway speed.
3. Select a lower gear when going uphill.
4. While in stop and go traffic, place the
gear selector in park or neutral and
idle the engine at a higher speed.
!
15. If you have to stop while going uphill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
pressing on the accelerator. This can
cause the automatic transaxle to over-
heat. Use the parking brake or
footbrake.NOTE:When towing check transaxle fluid more
frequently.

34WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
!!
!
WARNING:
While the engine is running, keep hair,
hands and clothing away from moving
parts such as the fan and drive belts to
prevent injury.
5. If the water pump drive belt is broken or
engine coolant is leaking out, stop the
engine immediately and call the nearest
Hyundai dealer for assistance.
WARNING:
Do not remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. This can allow coolant to be
blown out of the opening and cause se-
rious burns.6. If you cannot find the cause of the
overheat-ing, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to normal.
Then, if coolant has been lost, carefully
add coolant to the reservoir (page 6-9)
to bring the fluid level in the reservoir up
to the halfway mark.
7. Proceed with caution, keeping alert for
further signs of overheating. If
overheating happens again, call a
Hyundai dealer for assistance.
CAUTION:
Serious loss of coolant indicates there is
a leak in the cooling system and this
should be checked as soon as possible
by a Hyundai dealer.
D030A02A-AATIf your temperature gauge indicates over-
heating, you experience a loss of power, or
hear loud pinging or knocking, the engine
is probably too hot. If this happens, you
should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it
is safe to do so.
2. Place the gear selector lever in "P"
(automatic) or neutral (manual
transaxle) and set the parking brake. If
the air conditioning is on, turn it off.
3. If engine coolant is running out under
the car or steam is coming out from the
hood, stop the engine. Do not open the
hood until the coolant has stopped
running or the steaming has stopped. If
there is no visible loss of engine coolant
and no steam, leave the engine running
and check to be sure the engine cooling
fan is operating. If the fan is not running,
turn the engine off.
4. Check to see if the water pump drive belt
is missing. If it is not missing, check to
see that it is tight. If the drive belt seems
to be satisfactory, check for coolant
leaking from the radiator, hoses or under
the car. (If the air conditioning had been
in use, it is normal for cold water to be
draining from it when you stop).